Andrea Garolla1, Bruno Engl2, Damiano Pizzol3, Marco Ghezzi3, Alessandro Bertoldo3, Alberto Bottacin3, Marco Noventa4, Carlo Foresta3. 1. Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.garolla@unipd.it. 2. Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Brunico, Italy. 3. Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. 4. Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproductive outcome of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with or without human papillomavirus (HPV) semen infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional clinical study. SETTING: Units of andrology, reproductive medicine, and gynecology. PATIENT(S): A total of 226 infertile couples. INTERVENTION(S): Male partners were evaluated by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HPV on semen. After a diagnostic period, female partners underwent intrauterine insemination (IUI) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seminal parameters and FISH analysis for HPV in sperm head. Spontaneous or assisted pregnancies, live births, and miscarriages were recorded. Statistical analysis included unpaired Student t test and chi-square test. RESULT(S): Fifty-four male partners (23.9%) had HPV semen infection confined to sperm, confined to exfoliated cells, or in both cells. During the diagnostic period, noninfected couples showed spontaneous pregnancies. IUI and ICSI treatments were performed in, respectively, 60 and 98 noninfected and in 21 and 33 infected couples, with 38.4% and 14.2% cumulative pregnancy rates, respectively. The follow-up of pregnancies showed a higher miscarriage rate in infected couples (62.5% vs. 16.7%). Ongoing pregnancies of the latter group were characterized by HPV infection confined to exfoliated cells. CONCLUSION(S): A reduction in natural and assisted cumulative pregnancy rate and an increase in miscarriage rate are related to the presence of HPV at sperm level. Although the exact mechanism by which sperm infection is able to impair fertility remains unclear, this aspect is worthy of further investigations. If confirmed, these results could change the clinical and diagnostic approach to infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproductive outcome of infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with or without human papillomavirus (HPV) semen infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional clinical study. SETTING: Units of andrology, reproductive medicine, and gynecology. PATIENT(S): A total of 226 infertile couples. INTERVENTION(S): Male partners were evaluated by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HPV on semen. After a diagnostic period, female partners underwent intrauterine insemination (IUI) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seminal parameters and FISH analysis for HPV in sperm head. Spontaneous or assisted pregnancies, live births, and miscarriages were recorded. Statistical analysis included unpaired Student t test and chi-square test. RESULT(S): Fifty-four male partners (23.9%) had HPV semen infection confined to sperm, confined to exfoliated cells, or in both cells. During the diagnostic period, noninfected couples showed spontaneous pregnancies. IUI and ICSI treatments were performed in, respectively, 60 and 98 noninfected and in 21 and 33 infected couples, with 38.4% and 14.2% cumulative pregnancy rates, respectively. The follow-up of pregnancies showed a higher miscarriage rate in infected couples (62.5% vs. 16.7%). Ongoing pregnancies of the latter group were characterized by HPV infection confined to exfoliated cells. CONCLUSION(S): A reduction in natural and assisted cumulative pregnancy rate and an increase in miscarriage rate are related to the presence of HPV at sperm level. Although the exact mechanism by which sperm infection is able to impair fertility remains unclear, this aspect is worthy of further investigations. If confirmed, these results could change the clinical and diagnostic approach to infertile couples.
Authors: S La Vignera; R A Condorelli; R Cannarella; F Giacone; L Mongioi'; G Scalia; V Favilla; G I Russo; S Cimino; G Morgia; A E Calogero Journal: J Endocrinol Invest Date: 2019-06-04 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: Kathryn A McInerney; Elizabeth E Hatch; Amelia K Wesselink; Ellen M Mikkelsen; Kenneth J Rothman; Rebecca B Perkins; Lauren A Wise Journal: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol Date: 2017-09-07 Impact factor: 3.980
Authors: Edilson Damke; Fábio A Kurscheidt; Valério A Balani; Karen I Takeda; Mary M T Irie; Fabrícia Gimenes; Marcia E L Consolaro Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2017-08-01 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Thiago A Teixeira; Yasmin C Oliveira; Felipe S Bernardes; Esper G Kallas; Amaro N Duarte-Neto; Sandro C Esteves; Joël R Drevet; Jorge Hallak Journal: Asian J Androl Date: 2021 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.285
Authors: Andrea Garolla; Luca De Toni; Alberto Bottacin; Umberto Valente; Maurizio De Rocco Ponce; Andrea Di Nisio; Carlo Foresta Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2018-01-17 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Jay Schinfeld; Fady Sharara; Randy Morris; Gianpiero D Palermo; Zev Rosenwaks; Eric Seaman; Steve Hirshberg; John Cook; Cristina Cardona; G Charles Ostermeier; Alexander J Travis Journal: Mol Reprod Dev Date: 2018-09-25 Impact factor: 2.609